Village of Shawnee 2024 Drinking Water Consumer Confidence Report
The Village of Shawnee has prepared the following report for you, the consumer, on the quality of our drinking water.
The Safe Drinking Water Act Reauthorization of 1996 requires us to provide this report to the consumer. Included within this report is general health information, water quality tests results, how to participate in decisions concerning your drinking water and water system contacts. Protecting our drinking water source from contamination is the responsibility of all area residents. Please dispose of hazardous chemicals in the proper manner and report polluters to the appropriate authorizes. Only by working together can we ensure an adequate safe supply of water for future generations.
What is the Source of your Drinking Water?
The Village of Shawnee receives its drinking water from the Burr Oak Regional Water District which is withdrawing groundwater from five (6) wells, capable of 4 million gallons per day from a sand and gravel aquifer (water rich zone) within the Hocking River Buried Valley aquifer system located in Athens County, Dover Township.
What is the Source of Contaminants to Drinking Water?
The sources of drinking water, both tap and bottled water, include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or form human activity. Contaminants that may be present in source water include: (A) Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operation and wildlife; (B) Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals which can be naturally occurring or result from urban storm water runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming; (C) Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban storm water runoff and residential uses; (D) Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which ate by-products of industrial and petroleum production and can also come from gas stations, urban storm runoff and septic systems; (E) Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities. In order to ensure that the tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulation which limit the amount of certain contaminates in water provided by public water systems. FDA regulation establishes limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health. Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amount of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk.
More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).
SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT
The Burr Oak Regional Water District is a community public water system serving approximately 760 people near Athens, Ohio. The system also provides water to 18 Satellite systems, serving an additional 28,200 people. Burr Oak Regional Water District operates five wells that pump approximately 2,000,000 gallons of water per day from a sand and gravel aquifer, (water rich zone) within the Hocking River Buried Valley Aquifer System. The aquifer is covered by less than 20 feet of low permeability material, which provides minimal protection from contamination. Depth to water in this aquifer is less than 20 feet below the ground surface. The Drinking Water source protection area for the District’s wells is illustrated in the Drinking Water Source Assessment report prepared by Ohio EPA in May 2012. The source water protection area includes two zones, one inside the other. The “inner protection zone” is the area that provides ground water to the wells within one year of pumping. The “outer protection zone” is the area that contributes water when the wells are pumped for five years. Based on relevant databases and a field inspection of the area, several potential sources of contamination were identified within the protection area. These include a recycling center, agricultural areas, transportation routes, (such as State Route 13 and 682, and a railroad), above ground storage tanks and an abandoned oil and gas well. The Burr Oak Regional Water District’s source of drinking water has a high susceptibility to contaminants due to: • The presence of a relatively thin protective layer of clay overlaying the aquifer. • The shallow depth (less than 20 feet below ground surface) of the aquifer • The presence of a significant potential contaminate sources in the area. Telephone Burr Oak Regional Water District for additional source water assessment info at (740)767-2558.
Who Needs to Take Special Precautions?
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general public. Immune compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorder, some elderly and infants can be particularly at risk from infection. These people should seek advice about their drinking water from their health care providers, EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800 426-4791).
About Your Drinking Water
The EPA requires regular sampling to ensure drinking water safety. The Village of Shawnee conducted sampling for {bacteria, inorganic, radiological and volatile organic} contaminants during 2024. Samples were collected each month and sent to certified laboratories for testing. Each month the result was negative for fecal Coliform. TTHM’s & HAA5’s are taken quarterly. The Ohio EPA requires us to monitor for some contaminants less than once a year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently. Some of our data, though accurate is more than one year old.
Lead Information
If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. The Village of Shawnee is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have it tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.
Thermal Expansion in Hot Water Heaters is Potential Danger
Water expands as it is heated; this is called thermal expansion. If there is no room for heated water to expand, it builds up pressure in the plumbing. If you have a “closed system” this pressure may release the relief valve on the hot water tank. If the relief valve is not operating properly, the hot water tank could be damaged or even explode, due to thermal expansion. “Closed Systems” can be caused by closed valves, check valves, pressure reducing valves and backflow prevention devices etc., therefore, the installation of a thermal expansion tank or another suitable pressure relieving device may be needed in your plumbing. For more information contact a reputable plumber.
Danger from Wells, Cisterns, Pond and Spring Water
Supplies Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) mandates that residential auxiliary water supplies, such as wells, cisterns, ponds and springs must NOT be connected in any way to our water system, because some are unsafe and could represent a danger to public health. All private sources of water must be disconnected AND physically separate from our water system. A valve separating the system is not acceptable. Violations may endanger public health and can result in loss of water service.
Safety Precautions
The Village of Shawnee has taken the following measures to assure the safety of our drinking water. Our Water tank is locked and checked regularly for vandalism or tampering. If the water tank is tampered with the authorities are notified, and if they feel that the water supply was contaminated the required measures and tests will be taken to ensure the safety of our water supply.
How to Participate in Decisions Concerning Your Drinking Water
The Village of Shawnee encourages customers to attend the regular Council meetings, which are held at the water district office the fourth Monday of each month. The Village of Shawnee held an unconditioned license to operate for 2024. For more information about your drinking water contact a district employee listed below .
VILLAGE OFFICIALS and WATER DEPARTMENT
Jeffrey Eveland Village Administrator (740) 566-2244
Joe Perez-Water Department (740) 343-3310
Nathan Fisher – Certified Water Operator (740)621-0080
Detected Contaminants – Shawnee (2024):
HAA5: 21.8 ppb (limit: 60 ppb)
TTHM: 61.6 ppb (limit: 80 ppb)
Total Chlorine: 1.35 ppm (limit: 4 ppm)
Copper: 0.153 ppm (0 of 10 over limit)
Lead: 2.80 ppb (0 of 10 over limit)
Detected Contaminants – Burr Oak (2024 unless noted):
Total Coliform: 0% detected
Total Chlorine: 1.45 ppm (limit: 4 ppm)
HAA5: 16.45 ppb (limit: 60 ppb)
TTHM: 63.58 ppb (limit: 80 ppb)
Fluoride: 1.19 ppm (limit: 4 ppm)
Barium: 0.061 ppm (2023)
Nitrate: 0.36 ppm
Cyanide: 1.0 ppb (2023)
Lead: 0.80 ppb (0 samples over limit)
Copper: 0.156 ppm (0 samples over limit)
Additional Water Quality Info:
Iron: 0.00 mg/l
Manganese: 0.014 mg/l
pH: 7.93
Alkalinity: 200 mg/l
Hardness: 155 mg/l
-Maximum Contaminant Level Goal or MCLG: The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
-Maximum Contaminant Level or MCL: The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
-Action Level: The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.
=ppm: milligrams per liter or parts per million - or one ounce in 7,350 gallons of water.
-ppb: micrograms per liter or parts per billion - or one ounce in 7,350,000 gallons of water.
-Action Level Goal (ALG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. ALGs allow for a margin of safety.
-MRDL: Highest disinfectant level allowed -MRDLG: The level of residual disinfectant below which there is no known or
Definitions of some terms contained within this report:
• Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
• Maximum Contaminant level (MCL): The highest level of contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
• Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
• Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG): The level of drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.
• Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.
• Treatment Technique (TT): A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
• Parts per Million (ppm) or Milligrams per Liter (mg/L) are units of measure for concentration of a contaminant. A part per million corresponds to one second in a little over 11.5 days.
• Parts per Billion (ppb) or Micrograms per Liter (μg/L) are units of measure for concentration of a contaminant. A part per billion corresponds to one second in 31.7 years.
• The “<” symbol: A symbol which means less than. A result of <5 means that the lowest level that could be detected was 5 and the contaminant in that sample was not detected.
CCR Copies Available At:
Hannah Bros. Furniture – 114 Main St. Shawnee
Shawnee Post Office – 214 W. Main St. Shawnee
Shawnee Town Hall – 136 E. Main St. Shawnee